Notes on Life and Learning Lessons Chapter 1

Which is Bigger,

The Moon or the Star?

One night,

…my two young children and I took a stroll along the park.

The moon was almost quite full, the stars twinkled and there were only a few clouds. It was a lovely evening. I told my two kids to look at the nightblue sky and see the beauty of the moon and stars. Then I asked them, “Which do you think is bigger, the moon or the star?”

They immediately replied, “The moon, of course, is bigger!”

“Because that is what your eyes see. But let us do a little experiment.”

I told my younger son, Albert, who was six, to stay put in one place. I positioned his older brother, Allen, some 20 yards away. I stood 200 yards away from Allen. Then I loudly asked Albert, “Who looks smaller to you, Allen or me?”

He answered, “You look smaller Father.”

I asked again, “Who is farther from you?”

Albert answered, “You, father”.

Allen and I went back to Albert. Standing close to each other, I asked Albert, “Who is now actually bigger, me or Allen?” He said, “You, father.”

“I am like a star that appears smaller only because I am farther away. A star,” I said, “is much bigger than the moon but it looks so small because it is very, very far away.”

As we continued the leisurely stroll, I thought of sharing an idea or two about the real world. It is the duty of fathers to gradually prepare their children to see the world as it is – a world with good men as well as bad men. Many good men do not always look good while many bad men try their best to look good. It is also a world of so much beauty as well as one of so much poverty and injustices. Furthermore, it is the duty of fathers to inspire their children to contribute what they can make our world a better place to live in especially when the children have grown. Fathers can best inspire their children by setting an example of honesty, helpfulness, kindness, understanding, responsibility, and steadfastness on matters of principle.

We stopped for a while then I said, “Sometimes, what you see is not what you think it is.” Some people dress nicely and behave smoothly. The nice dress and the smooth behavior do not necessarily mean that they are good people. Some of them are corrupt. They cheat, they steal and they lie. Some speak fluently and convincingly but they are actually liars. Some do not have fine clothes to wear because they are simple workers but they are good and honest. Remember, The Father Above gave us eyes to see. He also gave us a mind to look deeper into what we must see. We must use both to know the truth.”